Raisable end gate for cattle trucks



Oct. 2, 1956 c. G. BUTZOW RAISABLE END GATE FOR CATTLEYTRUCKS Filed Aug.20, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

BY 3 i 3 2 Arron v5) CHARLES G. Burzow Uct. 2, 1956 c. e. BUTZOWRAISABLE END GATE FOR CATTLE TRUCKS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 20, 1953CHARLES G. Burzovv 4 INVENTOR. By

ATTORNEY United St This invention relates to a raisable end gate forcattle trucks.

The invention is more particularly concerned with a gate for normallyclosing the rear end of a truck body adapted for the transportation ofcattle and the like and wherein the gate is of a flexible character andis of eiongated rectangular form and whose opposite edges are slidablymounted in laterally opposed guiding channel members adapting the gateto be bodily lifted from a closing position and which is readilyclosable under substantial action of gravity.

A primary object of the invention is to provide a gate of the abovenoted general character which is highly simple in construction, durable,and effective in operatron.

A further object of the invention is to provide a gate of the abovenoted general character which requires a minimum of manual eifort in theopening thereof and in which the closing action is substantially aidedby the force of gravity.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent inthe course of the following detailed description, taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a rear elevationalview of a cattle truck body showing the improved gate in closedposition.

Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the rear portion ofthe cattle truck body together with the improved gate as observed in theplane of line 2-2 on Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the gate in partiallyraised position.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmental view of the lower portion of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view of one corner of the truck bodyand a corresponding portion of the gate.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the gate in a rolled position showing inparticular the flexibility thereof together with the relativedisposition of the slats, spacers and flexible connecting bands.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, the cattle truck body is ofusual construction and includes a floor F, opposite side horizontallyextending and vertically spaced bars B and opposite side verticallyspaced bars B which are disposed outwardly of the bars B and suitablysecured thereto.

Suitably secured to the horizontal bars B adjacent the rear end of thetruck body are a pair of laterally opposed gate guiding channel members10 which include lower vertical portions 11, upper horizontal portions12 and arcuate connecting portions 13.

The gate per se comprises a plurality of spaced parallel slats 14 whichextend transversely of the truck body and whose opposite ends areslidably disposed within the guiding channel members 10.

tes Patent 0 2,765,032 Patented Oct. 2, 1956 Disposed between the slats14 are two series of spacing blocks 15, one series adjacent each of theopposite ends of the slats and the blocks are preferably of a width sub-1stantially equal to that of the slats but may be more or .ess.

The slats 14 and spacing blocks 15 are maintained in assembled relationby means of a pair of rubberized fabric bands 16, one thereof beingdisposed over each series of spacing blocks 15' and the bands aresecured to the stats 14 and spacing blocks 15 by nails or any othersuitable securing means.

The rubberized bands 16 not only provide a connecting means for theslats 14 and spacing blocks 15 but they provide marked flexibility tothe gate in a direction from the lower to the upper end thereof or viceversa, as is Iczl earlg indicated by the rolled position of the gate inThe rubberizing of the connecting bands renders same waterproof andaccordingly substantially prolongs the life thereof.

The open construction of the improved gate in general correspondence tothat of the truck body renders same relatively light in weight andaccordingly little manual effort is required to raise same from itslowered closing position of Figs. 1 and 2 to its raised open positionwherein the major portion thereof is disposed within the upperhorizontal portions 12 of the guiding channels 10.

Less manual eifort will of course be required to lower the gate to theclosed position of Figs. 1 and 2 since such closing action will besubstantially aided by the force of gravity.

While I have disclosed my invention in accordance with a single specificstructural embodiment thereof, such is to be considered as illustrativeonly, and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being defined inthe subjoined claim.

What I claim and desire to secure by U. S. Letters Patent is: V

A gate structure for the rear end of a truck body having a floor, a topand opposite sides, comprising a channel guide member secured to each ofsaid sides and extending upwardly from the floor adjacent said rear end,an upper horizontal portion and an arcuate portion interconnecting thevertical and horizontal portions of said channel guide, a slidable gatecomprising a plurality of vertically spaced and horizontally disposedslats, the opposite ends of said slats being positioned in said channelguide members, two laterally spaced series of short spacer blocksdisposed between said slats near their ends but removed from the channelguide members, said spacer blocks and said slats being of the samematerial and of the same width and thickness, and a flexible bandextending transversely on one face of said slats near each end thereofbut removed from the channel guide members, interconnecting said slatsand said short spacer blocks.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,506,713 Miller Aug. 26, 1924 1,725,750 Brinton Aug. 27, 1929 1,729,825Gaiser Oct. 1, 1929 2,021,512 Lake Nov. 19, 1935 FOREIGN PATENTS 947,203France Jan. 10, 1949 435,556 Great Britain Sept. 20, 1935 69,439Switzerland June 16, 1915

